Method and device for cutting film-like materials, for instance for automatic packaging installations

ABSTRACT

A process for cutting film-like material as a result of a shearing action performed by a blade and a counterblade provided with respective cutting edges acting in a given cutting plane. The blade has a first end and a second end, and movement of the blade is controlled in a differentiated way and along paths that are substantially parallel to one another in positions corresponding to the first end and the second end between:  
     a position of divarication, in which the respective cutting edges define a space for advance of the film-like material, and in which the cutting edge of the blade is located, with respect to the cutting edge of the counterblade, at a distance greater than the homologous distance measured at a point corresponding to the second end; and  
     a closed position, in which the blade and the counterblade are closed on one another after performing the cutting of the film-like material with a movement of co-operation of the cutting edges which is performed in a gradual way starting from the second end in the direction of the first end of the blade.

[0001] The present invention relates to the cutting of film-like materials.

[0002] The solution according to the invention has been developed with particular attention paid to the possible application in automatic packaging systems for example for packaging foodstuffs, in particular in view of the possible use in machines for applying tear bands.

[0003] The corresponding prior art is extremely extensive, as is demonstrated, for instance, by documents such as IT-B-1 041 468 (to which there corresponds GB-A-1 558 998) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,891.

[0004] Devices of this type reproduce, with more or less extensive variants, a basic common type which essentially envisages the application, on a ribbon of film-like wrapping material, of tear bands oriented transversely with respect to the direction of extension (and of advance) of the ribbon.

[0005] The tear bands are obtained starting from a further ribbon of film-like material that is made to advance by steps through a cutting unit. The unit in question acts in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of the further ribbon of film-like material so as to cut, starting from the latter, strips of reduced width, usually selectively variable according to the requirements of use.

[0006] The strips of material thus obtained, which are to constitute the tear bands, are then taken up by a transferring device which carries out application of the latter on the wrapping material. This takes place at given distances corresponding to the dimensions of the products to be wrapped.

[0007] The main problems regarding the making of devices of the type described above are linked to the fact that the operation of cutting the tear bands is intrinsically discontinuous since it has to be performed by steps, whereas usually it is desirable that the wrapping material on which the tear bands are applied should be kept in conditions of advance at a practically constant speed.

[0008] The need to reconcile the intermittent operation of the cutting unit that forms the tear bands with the continuous movement of the wrapping material on which the said tear bands are applied is more often than not met by intervening (according to various modalities) on the transferring device. Usually, it is envisaged that the said transferring device will pick up the tear bands as soon as they have been formed, slowing down or stopping altogether in a position corresponding to the cutting unit, and will then follow a movement of rotation with an acceleration such as to mean that, when the tear band, carried by the transferring device, reaches the position in which it is to be transferred onto the wrapping material, it will be advancing at a speed practically corresponding to the speed of advance, kept continuous and constant, of the wrapping material.

[0009] Recourse to such an arrangement is exposed to critical factors to an increasing extent as, according to the by now constant trend in the sector, the speed of operation of the ensemble described (expressed in general in terms of number of tear bands applied per unit time) increases as the rates of operation of the packaging plants increases.

[0010] The above-mentioned critical factors also involve the cutting unit, which is frequently built with the use of rotating blades, which may possibly co-operate with counterblades (anvils) carried by the transferring device. A solution of this type is described, for instance, in the Italian patent application for industrial invention TO96A000806.

[0011] The above cutting solutions of a dynamic type present, however, the drawback of being difficult to implement, in particular as regards the need to adjust the cutting device exactly and to regulate its operation so that it may be adapted to possible variations in the dimensions of the tear bands and/or in the thickness and nature of the film-like material out of which the said tear bands are cut.

[0012] In various applications that make use of film-like material that is to be cut at pre-set distances, there is already known the solution of resorting to automatic cutting devices which are able to carry out an operation of shearing. These are cutting devices that comprise a blade and a counterblade hinged together like the blades of a pair of scissors or shears.

[0013] A solution of the above kind, which is able to ensure a good precision in performing the cutting operation, is, however, not applicable, except in very particular cases, to the cutting of tear bands. Usually, the latter are made up of very narrow strips which are to be cut out of ribbon of film-like material the width of which identifies the length of the tear bands. Since the cutting area ends up being somewhat long, it is necessary to use blades of corresponding extension. Precisely on account of the hinging of the blades in a position corresponding to respective proximal ends, the distal ends of the blades themselves must carry out a somewhat extensive travel, which proves far from compatible with the need to operate at ever-increasing speeds.

[0014] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution that is able to overcome the drawbacks of the known solutions just described.

[0015] According to the presence invention, the above purpose is achieved thanks to a cutting process having the characteristics specifically recalled in the ensuing claims. The invention also relates to the corresponding device.

[0016] The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates, in a general side elevation, part of a device for applying tear bands, made according to the invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view according to the line II-II of FIG. 1; and

[0019] FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic representations of successive steps of operation of a device according to the invention.

[0020] In the view of FIG. 1, the reference number 10 designates, as a whole, a device for cutting and applying tear bands, designed to be comprised, for example, in the context of a system for automatic packaging of products, such as foodstuffs.

[0021] According to a configuration in itself known, the device 10 is designed to be traversed by a film-like wrapping material F (which is usually made to advance at a constant speed), on which there are to be applied, at selectively identified regular distances apart, tear bands B having a width selectively identified according to the specific requirements of application.

[0022] The tear bands B are obtained starting from a further film-like material C fed off a roll or roller (not illustrated) towards a cutting unit 12, where the film-like material C undergoes cutting in the transverse direction so as to give rise to the bands B. The bands thus formed are taken up by an applying device 14, usually consisting of a rotating structure comprising a plurality of gripping units 16 (normally operating by suction), which are designed to pick up the tear bands B from the cutting device 12 to transfer them onto the film-like material F. The foregoing corresponds to criteria of implementation and use which are altogether known in the prior art (also in different possible variant embodiments) and which, as such, do not require a detailed description herein.

[0023] From the side elevation of FIG. 1 it may be noted that the transferring device 14 rotates about a main respective axis X14 and carries, associated to it, a fixed contrast element 18. The latter element, which performs the function of counterblade, has a cutting edge 18 a, which is usually located at a short distance from the ideal cylindrical surface along which the movement of rotation (or, to be more precise, orbital movement) of the gripping units 16 about the axis X14 takes place. In particular, the cutting edge 18 a is approximately co-extensive with one of the generatrices of the aforesaid ideal cylindrical surface.

[0024] The reference number 20 designates a blade provided with a respective cutting edge 20 a designed to cooperate with the cutting edge 18 a so as to carry out cutting of the film-like material starting from which the tear bands B are made.

[0025] In the view of FIG. 1, the reference number 22 designates a motor-driven roller which has the function of unwinding roller and is designed to control advance of the film-like material C by successive steps the length of which is selectively determined (in a known way) so as to correspond to the width of the tear bands that are to be made.

[0026] The reference number 24 designates a piece of supporting equipment (mounted in a fixed position with respect to the framework of the device 10) designed to define a sort of passage or gap 26 through which the film arriving from the unwinding roller 22 can be fed regularly towards the cutting area where the cutting edges 18 a and 20 a act.

[0027] The blade 20 is carried by a respective piece of actuating equipment 28 (see also FIG. 2), which is basically made up of a pair of side brackets that support the blade 20 in a condition of sliding support—in a plane XT defining in practice the cutting plane (see FIG. 1)—against the equipment 24. In particular, the brackets in question support the blade 20 at points corresponding to its ends, designated by 30 and 32, respectively.

[0028] The supporting action (and, as will be more clearly seen from what follows, the controlling action) of the blade 20 takes place by means of two articulated-joint elements, such as ball-and-socket joints, 34 and 36, each of which acts between a respective end 30, 32 of the blade 20 and a corresponding bracket 301, 321 of the actuating device 28 subjected to the action of a cam assembly 38, 40.

[0029] Both of the cam assemblies 38, 40 rotate about a common axis X42 which is parallel both to the line along which the cutting edge 18 a of the counterblade 18 extends and to the axis X14 about which the transferring device 14 rotates.

[0030] Usually, the two cam assemblies 38, 40 are mounted in phase together in the sense that the ideal straight lines that connect the geometrical centre of the eccentric pivot of each assembly to the common axis of rotation X42 lie in the same plane where the axis X42 lies. The distances that separate the geometrical centres of the two cam assemblies 38, 40 from the axis X42—i.e., in practice, the degrees of eccentricity of the two assemblies 38 and 40—are, however, different from one another.

[0031] For instance, in the example of embodiment illustrated herein, the degree of eccentricity of the assembly 38 is greater than the degree of eccentricity of the assembly 40 (of course, this relationship could be reversed).

[0032] In this way, the set of parts just described may be mounted in such a way that the cutting edge 20 a of the blade 20 usually presents a skew orientation with respect to the line of extension of the cutting edge 18 a of the counterblade 18.

[0033] In a preferred way, the position of assembly of the elements described is chosen in such a way that the cutting edge 20 a (and the blade 20 as a whole) lies on a generatrix of the orbital path described by the gripping elements 16 about the axis X14 only when the cam assemblies 38 and 40 are in the position of rotation such that the geometrical centres of the respective eccentric pivots are in the position of maximum approach to the transferring device 14. In other words, only in this condition (i.e., the one to which, as will appear more clearly in what follows, FIG. 5 refers), the cutting edge 20 a extends along a straight line substantially parallel to the axis of rotation X14 of the transferring device 14.

[0034] As a result of being mounted on the cam assemblies 38, 40 and of the different degree of eccentricity of these assemblies, when the blade 20 is in the position where it is furthest away from the transferring device 14 (i.e., when the cam assemblies 38 and 40 are in an angularly opposed position—i.e., translated by 180° in their angular movement of rotation—with respect to the position described previously), the end of the blade 20 carried by the cam assembly with the greater degree of eccentricity (in the example illustrated here, it is the end 30 carried by the cam assembly 38) is, with respect to the ideal cylindrical surface on which the gripping members 16 orbit in the transferring device 14, at a distance greater than the opposite end (in the example here illustrated, the end 32) carried by the cam assembly 40. This situation is clearly recognizable in FIG. 3.

[0035] Furthermore, the dimensions of the parts involved and the degree of eccentricity of the two cam assemblies 38, 40 are chosen in such a way that, in the position just described (blade 20 in the position where it is furthest away from the transferring device 14), the end 32 of the blade 20 that is closer to the device 14, and hence to the counterblade 18, is in any case at a distance from the counterblade 18 itself sufficient to create a space that is enough to enable the film C coming from the gap 26 to advance in the space between the cutting edge 20 a of the blade 20 and the cutting edge 18 a and of the counterblade 18.

[0036] Control in rotation of the cam assemblies 38 and 40 about the axis X42, driven by a shaft 44 operated by a motor (not shown, but of a known type) enables movement forwards and backwards of the blade 20 between the two end positions described previously (i.e., a position where the blade is furthest away from the transferring device 14 FIG. 3 and a position where the blade is closest to the transferring device 14 ? FIG. 5).

[0037] The rotational movement of the shaft 44 is coordinated with the movement of the feed roller 22 in such a way that, when the blade 20 is furthest away from the transferring device 14, as described previously, the feed roller 22 causes the film C to advance in the area between the cutting edges 18 a and 20 a by a distance of advance corresponding to the width of the tear bands that are to be cut. Movement of the film C is not hindered by the blade 20 and by the counterblade 18, which at this point are in any case separated from one another.

[0038] Once the condition described has been reached, as a result of the rotation of the cam assemblies 38 and 40 driven by the shaft 44 the blade 20 starts advancing again towards the transferring device 14.

[0039] The above movement may be controlled both continuously and intermittently by causing the shaft 44 to rotate accordingly. In any case, the movement in question causes the blade 20 and the counterblade 18 to interact so carrying out cutting of a tear band starting from the film-like material C (see FIG. 4).

[0040] Precisely on account of the different degree of eccentricity of the two assemblies 38 and 40, the closing movement of the cutting edges 20 a and 18 a on the film-like material C is obtained (as represented schematically in FIG. 4) starting from the ends of the cutting edges 18 a and 20 a located in positions corresponding to the assembly 40 having smaller eccentricity, towards the opposite ends located in a position corresponding to the assembly 38 having greater eccentricity.

[0041] This fact is immediately understandable if it is borne in mind that, when the blade 20 is in the position where it is furthest away from the transferring assembly 14, the end 32 carried by the assembly 40 is, with respect to the transferring device 14, at a smaller distance as compared to the end 30 carried by the assembly 38 (see again FIG. 3).

[0042] Instead, when the blade 20 has reached the position where it is closest to the assembly 14, it is with its cutting edge 20 a set practically parallel to the axis X14 in a condition where the said edge is substantially tangent to the ideal cylindrical surface along which the orbital movement of the gripping elements 16 takes place (FIG. 5).

[0043] The movement of cutting of the film C thus takes place according to a typical shearing action, but without this requiring hinging of the blades 20 and 18 on a common axis.

[0044] The result described (it will be appreciated that the representation of FIGS. 3 to 5 has been deliberately emphasized for reasons of clarity of illustration) is in fact achievable by imparting on the ends 30 and 32 of the blade 20 travels along substantially linear and parallel paths: in particular, it is possible to impart on the end 30 carried by the cam assembly 38 a travel (measured in the cutting plane XT—see FIG. 1) even only slightly greater than the amplitude of the homologous travel imparted on the opposite end 32.

[0045] In this way, a drawback that is intrinsic in the solutions based upon the use of cutting blades which are hinged together according to a general scissors configuration is overcome.

[0046] The gripping units 16 of the transferring device 14 may moreover intervene so as to pick up the part of 25 film-like material C that has just undergone cutting (see, once again, FIG. 5) with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the cutting edge 18 a of the counterblade 18, hence precisely in a position corresponding to the ideal cylindrical surface on which the orbital movement of the aforesaid elements 16 takes place.

[0047] At the end of the cutting operation, the cutting edge 20 a of the blade 20 is in fact oriented in a direction that is substantially parallel to the aforesaid direction of picking-up.

[0048] The movement of the blade 20 described previously can be controlled in a highly precise way both as regards the rate (which can be regulated by intervening on the speed of rotation, which may possibly be modulated as has already been said, of the assemblies 38 and 40 about the axis X42), and as regards the amount of the travel imparted on the two ends of the blade (an amount that may be determined a priori by defining the degrees of eccentricity of the assemblies 38 and 40), and also as regards the possible adjustment of any preloading imparted on the blade 20 in view of its cooperation with the counterblade 18.

[0049] In this connection, it has proved preferable to resort to solutions which, as regards the relative spatial location of the axis X42 and the region of cooperation of the cutting edges 18 a, 20 a (hence, of the cutting plane XT), will avoid any stresses that might result in jamming of the two cutting edges.

[0050] Recourse to solutions that tend to locate the axis X42 so that it coincides or substantially coincides with the plane XT in which the relative movement of the cutting edges 18 a, 20 a is performed has proved particularly advantageous. A solution that has proved preferential is the one in which the axis X42 is displaced at least slightly with respect to the plane XT on the side where the counterblade 18 is found. In this way, the action of controlling the blade 20 by means of the cam assemblies 38 and 40 is obtained in such a way as to counter any tendency towards jamming of the blade 20 against the counterblade 18. The preloading deemed necessary in order to ensure a proper cutting action (also according the specific characteristics of the film C) can thus be adjusted with precision. This may be obtained by means of a pressure element 46—preferably acting under the action of a load spring 48 with a selectively adjustable pre-loading by means of a screw-type adjustment member 50—which acts on the blade 20, or rather on the elements carrying the blade 20.

[0051] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of implementation and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what is described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the annexed claims. This applies in particular as regards the possibility of imparting on the ends of a blade, such as a blade 20, a movement of the type described previously, resorting, instead of to cam assemblies, to linear actuators subjected to a control function—operated, for example, by means of a digital control device—chosen, for instance, in such a way as to impart on said ends a law of movement that substantially resembles a harmonic motion. 

1. A process for cutting film-like material as a result of a shearing action performed by a blade and a counterblade provided with respective cutting edges acting in a cutting plane, said blade having a first end and a second end, said process comprising the operation of controlling movement of said blade in a differentiated way and along paths that are substantially parallel to one another in positions corresponding to said first end and said second end between: a position of divarication, in which said respective cutting edges define a space for advance of said film-like material, and in which said cutting edge of said blade is located, with respect to said cutting edge of said counterblade, at a distance, measured at a point corresponding to said first end, greater than the homologous distance measured at a point corresponding to said second end; and a closed position, in which said blade and said counterblade are closed on one another after performing the cutting of said film-like material with a movement of co-operation of said cutting edges which is performed in a gradual way starting from said second end in the direction of said first end of said blade.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the movement of said blade between said divaricated position and said closed position is obtained by imparting, on said first end and said second end of said blade, respective movements substantially resembling a harmonic motion.
 3. The process according to claim 1, comprising the operation of picking up the part of film-like material that has undergone cutting with an orientation substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said cutting edge of said counterblade, and the operation of orienting said cutting edge of said blade in said closed position in a direction substantially parallel to said picking-up direction.
 4. A device for cutting film-like material as a result of a shearing action performed by a blade and a counterblade provided with respective cutting edges acting in a cutting plane, said blade having a first end and a second end, said device comprising an actuating assembly for actuating said blade and adapted to control the movement of said blade in a differentiated way and along paths that are substantially parallel to one another in positions corresponding to said first end and said second end between: a position of divarication, in which said respective cutting edges define a space for advance of said film-like material, and in which said cutting edge of said blade is located, with respect to said cutting edge of said counterblade, at a distance, measured at a point corresponding to said first end, greater than the homologous distance measured at a point corresponding to said second end; and a closed position, in which said blade and said counterblade are closed on one another after performing the cutting of said film-like material with a movement of co-operation of said cutting edges which is performed in a gradual way starting from said second end towards said first end of said blade.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said actuating assembly imparts on said first end and said second end of said blade respective movements substantially resembling a harmonic motion.
 6. The device according to claim 4, comprising a transferring device for picking up the part of film-like material that has undergone cutting with an orientation substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said cutting edge of said counterblade, and wherein said actuating assembly orients said cutting edge of said blade in said closed position in a direction substantially parallel to said picking-up direction.
 7. The device according to claim 4, comprising associated to at least one between said first end and said second end of said blade, a cam assembly for controlling movement of said at least one end between said divaricated position and said closed position.
 8. The device according to claim 7, comprising two cam assemblies associated respectively to said first end and said second end of said blade.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said cam assemblies have degrees of eccentricity different from one another.
 10. The device according to claim 8, wherein said cam assemblies have a common axis of rotation.
 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said cam assemblies have respective centres of eccentric pivots, and in that the straight lines joining said respective centres with said common axis of rotation are parallel to one another.
 12. The device according to claim 4, wherein said actuating assembly acts on said blade in such a way as to counter jamming of said blade against said counterblade.
 13. The device according to claim 4, comprising a pressure element for applying on said blade a preloading in the direction of said counterblade.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein pressure element acts under the action of a load spring.
 15. The device according to claim 13, wherein said pressure element carries, associated to it, an adjustment element for selectively adjusting said preloading.
 16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that said adjustment element (50) is a screw-type adjustment element.
 17. The device according to claim 4, comprising, associated to at least one between said first end and said second end of said blade, a respective actuating member which is able to perform a travel in a direction generically transverse to the direction of extension of said cutting edge of said blade, and in that, between said respective actuating member and said end of said blade to which said actuating member is associated, there is set an articulation device.
 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said articulation device is a ball-and-socket joint. 